Railroad-crossing gate.



J. DOSER.

RAILROAD CROSSING GATE.

APPLICATION FILED umm, me.

Patented Aug. 27, l918.

mn '.ulfms mms commun ummwAsHrNamN. n c.

JOI-IN DOSER, l0]'3 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

RAILROAD-CROSSING GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aw. 2a, 191e.

Application filed December 19, 1916. Serial No. 137,826.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Dosnn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossing Gates, of which the following is a specification. i

.This invention relates to a rail-road crossing gate and also pertains to a means for automatically operating same. Y

An object of this invention is to provide a crossing gate which is adapted to be automatically disposed across a street intersecting a railway on the approach of cars or trains, and to provide a gate of such character that in event auto vehicles should'be driven thereagainst, as when unmanageably or by careless driving, the vehicle will be effectively stopped, without muchchances -of injury to the vehicle and its passengers and with little chance of danger to the cars or trains on the railway. n

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated iny the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a view of the crossing gate, showing it in its elevated position in full lines and in its lowered position in dotted lines.

trical means for automatically operating the gate, showing the parts as positioned when the gate is up.

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts as positioned when the gate is down.-

Fig. 4l is a detail in side view of the wigwag mechanism.

More specifically 5 and 6 indicate a. pair of columns or posts arranged on oppositesides cfa road way or street at its intersection with a rail-road 7. rllhe posts are of such height that their upper ends will be disposed above the traffic.r4 Attached to the upper end of the post 5 is a cable, chain or other llexible member 8 which extends to the post 6 and passes over a pulley 9 disposed at its upper end, thence passes downward through the post 6 and is connected to and wound upon a drum 10 disposed in a casing 11 at the base of the post. The cable 8 has a weight 12 ailixed thereto at a point a distance from its connection to the post 5 slightly less than the distance from the connectionof the cable to the ground Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the elecso that when the portion of the cable between the weight and the post is suspended vertically, the vweight will be spaced a short distance from the ground. lnterposed in the cable at a 'suitable pointbetween its fastened end and the drum isa spring 13 here shown as arranged neXt to the weight, which spring will permit elongation of the cable between its fastenings, as occasion may require and as willl appear later.

The drum 10 is mounted on a shaft 1% which also carries a second drum 15 on. which a cable 16 is wound in a direction" opposite that of the cable S on the drum 10 so that when the shaft rotates one cable will wind on its drum while the other cable unwinds. The cable 16 lis connected to the cable 8 at a point on the latter between the posts which, when the cable 8 is stretched in its uppermost position will Vbe near the pulley 9. The drums 10 and 1st are of such relative diameters that approximately twice the length of the cable S will wind and 'unwind to that of the cable 16. The cable 8 may also carry a signal disk 17 and a lamp 18 at any desired point.

The shaft 14( is fitted with a pair of gear wheels 19 and 20, the gear' wheel 19 meshing with an idler pinion 21 and this pinion and the gear wheel 20 meshing with gear wheels 22 and 23 respectively, loosely mounted on a drive shaft 24.

The wheels 22 and 23 are formed with clutch ,teeth 25 and 26 with which normally disengaged clutch 'members 27 and 2S splined on. the shaft 24 areadapted to be engaged. Pivoted arms 29 and 30, `connect with the clutch membersand springs 31 act on` same to normally hold theclutch members in disengaged positions.

The shaft 24-is adapted to lbe driven by a motor 32 during the time a train is between insulated sections of the railway track and remain stationary when the track is clear; conductors 33 and 341 leading from the terminals of the motor to the rails A and B of the track through a generator 35.

Electrical means are provided for alternately throwing the clutch members into engagement with the gear wheels to drive the shaft 141 in opposite directions, according to whether the cable 8 is to be left down, as on trains entering the crossing block or to be drawn up after the train has left the block. This means embodies a system of electrical circuits and devices which may be of any suitable type and arrangement but is here shown as constructed. as followsz Connected to the arms 29 and 30 are armatures 36 adapted to be attached by electro-` magnets 37 and 38 in opposition to the springs 31. One terminal of each magnet connects with spaced contact members 39 and 40 of a selective switch, through conductors 41 and 42. The other terminals of the mavnets connect with conductors 43 and 44, conductor leading to a normally closed switch 45 and conductor 44 leading to a normally closed switch 46. The switches 45 and 46 are arranged adjacent the lower and upper ends of the post ,G and are adapted to be actuated byr a disk 47 on the cable S according to the position of the latter. For example when ther cable is up, the disk will be down and will engage and hold open the switch 45, and when the cable is up the disk will engage and hold open the switch 46.

The switches connect the conductors 43 and 44 to a conductor 4S leadingyfrom one terminal of a battery 49 the other terminal of which connects with a switch arm 50 adapted tocontact the members 39 and 40 but normally held in engagement with com tact member 39 by a spring 51. An armature 52 on the arm 50 is adapted to be operated by a magnet 53 one terminal of which connects with the conductor through a conductor 54 and a resistance coil and the other connects with the rail B through a. conductor 55 in such manner that when the Circuit is closed from the generator through the motor across the gap between the rails A and B the magnet 53 will. be energized to attract the armature 52 and'shift the arm 50 in opposition to the spring 51.

Means are provided for maintaining the circuit closed through the motora short period afterk the train has left theblock, and consists ofa normally closed switch 5G connected to the switch 45 which makes and breaks a circuit between conductors 57 and 58 leading from the conductors 33 and 34.

In the operation of the invention assume the parts to be positioned as shown `in Figs. 1 and 2, with the several circuits open. On the generator circuit being closed, as by a connection bet-ween the rails A and B. the motor willbe setin operation to rotate the shaft 24. At the same time the magnet will. be energized to swing the arm 50 to contact member 40 whereupon*current will pass from battery 49, through arm 50, conductor 42, magnet 38, conductor 44, closed switch 46 and conductor 48, `to energize magnet 38 and throw clutch member 28 into engagement with geartwheel 23. Motion will then be .transmitted `to shaft 14 through gear wheel` 20 to rotate drums 10 and 15 and unwind. cable 8` andv wind Vcable 16, thus lowering cable 8 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.. Cable 8 in unwinding raises the disk 47 out of engagement with double switch 45-56 allowing same to close and complete another generator circuit through the motor and at the same time place magnet 37 in readiness to be energized from battery 49 on the arm 50 being restored. The disk 47 in moving will engage switch 4G and open same thus breaking the circuit through magnet 3S and thus allowing the clutch member 28 to be thrown out by spring 31. rEhe drums will then stop rotating with the cable 8 positioned to obstruct traflic.

s, a means for wig-wagging the lowered cable, an eccentric 59 is mounted on shaft 24 which operates through an arm 60 to vibrate cable 16 by taking up and releasing slack therein.

The motor will continue in operation during such time as the circuit is closed between the rails and for a time thereafter as will now appear. On the train moving out of the block the rail connection will be brokenithus dez-energizing magnet 53, but the motor will be driven through the circuit: directed through the now closed switch 56. Arm 50 will swing back to contact 39 to direct current from battery 49 through arm 50, conductor 41, magnet 37, and conductor 43. Magnet 37 will be energized to threw clutch member 27 into engagement with reversing gear 22 to drive the drums so as to wind cable 8 and unwind cable 1G. The disk 47 in moving downwardly will permit switch 4G to close and on engaging' double switch 45-5G will open same and thereby cut off generator `current to motor and at the same time break the circuit to magnet 37,V which on being denergized, will permit clutch member 27 to be disengaged from the gear wheel 22. Shaft 14 will then come to rest with the cable 8 again in its uppermost position, and the parts restored in readiness for another operation.

As a means for holding the cable against excessive swaying inwardly in event it is run into while lowered. a bracket G1 is mounted on the post 5 to project alongside of the dependent position of the cable.

The spring 13 will serve to permit-elongation of the cable if it should be run into so as to lessen chance of damage to the vehicle colliding therewith and also danger of breakage ofthe cable or its connections.

lVhile I refer to the member S as a. cable it is manifest that a chain, rope or other suitable device may be employed, or it may be formed of combinations of cables and chains as occasion may require.

The electrical operating devices are illustrated schematically and obviously other devices and arrangements may be resorted to in practice, the essential feature being in providing means for automatically lowering Various modifications may be resorted to in adapting the device to conditions' without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

It is desirable that an audible alarm be sounded during the time the cable is out of its elevated position, that is while the motor is in operation. For this purpose a shunt circuit 62 is connected to the generator circuit in which a bell 63 is arranged, so that the bell will be sounded during the time current is flowing through the motor.

I claim:

1. A railroad crossing gate, comprising a pair of spaced posts, a gate cable extending between the upper portions of the posts and attached to one of said posts, a drum for winding and unwinding the cable to raise and lower the portion of the cable between the posts, a weight on the cable intermediate the post for causing aportion thereof to depend substantially vertical when lowered, a second drum and a cable thereon connected to the gate cable adapted to cooperate with the weight to dispose a portion of the gate cable horizontally when lowered.

2. A railroad crossing gate, comprising a pair of spaced posts, a gate cable extending between the upper portions kof the posts and i attached to one of said posts, a drum for winding and unwinding the cable to raise and lower the portion of the cable between the posts, a weight on the calble intermediate the posts for causing a portion thereof to depend substantially vertical when lowered; a second drum, a cable thereon connected to the gate cable adapted to coperate with the weight to dispose a portion of the gate cable horizontally when lowered, and means for rotating said drums. f

3. A railroad crossing gate, comprising a pair of spaced posts, a gate cable extending between the upper portions of the posts, a drum for winding and unwinding the cable to raise and lower the portion of the cable between the posts, a weight on the cable for causing a portion thereof to depend Substantially vertical when lowered, a second drum and a cable thereon connected to the gate cable horizontally when lowered, means for automatically rotating said drums in alternate directions and means controlled by one of the cables for limiting thek rotation of the drums.

4. The combination with a pair of parallel railroad rails insulated to form a block, and an electrical circuit having terminals connected to the rails and adapted to be closed on electrically connecting the rails, of a gate 'chain suspended horizontally,

and i suspended horizontally means actuatedby closing of the kcircuit through the rails for lowering said chain and means controlled by thefopening vof they circuit for raising the chain, and means forL wig-waggingthe chain while the circuit is closed.y

5. The combination with a' pair of railroad rails insulated to form blocks, and an electrical circuitl having -terminals connectedto' the rails and "adaptedtto Vbe closed on l velectrically y n said circuit, a` drum adapted to be rbt-ated connecting'the rails, a motor on by said motor, a cable wound onr said drum betweeny posts, means controlled 'by closing the .electrical circuit through the rails for sett-ing the mof tor in operation and-causing the cable' to f unwindV from the drum, and means on the cable for stopping rotation of the drum.

6. The combination with a pair of railroad rails insulated to Jform blocks, and an electrical circuit having terminals connected to the rails and adapted to be closed on electrically connecting the rails, a motor on said circuit, a drum adapted to be rotated by said motor, a Cable wound on said drum and suspended horizontally between posts, means controlled by closing the electrical circuit through the rails setting the motor in operation and causing the cable to unwind from the drum, means on the cable for stopping rotation of the drum, means controlled by the opening of the cir-cuit through the rails for causing the drum to rotate in a reverse direction to wind the cable, and means controlled by the cable for stopping the reverse circuit, a drum adapted to be rotated byV said motor, a cable wound on said drum and suspended horizontally between posts, means controlled by closing the electrical circuit vthrough the rails setting the motor in operation and causing the cable to unwind from the drum, means on the cable for stopping rotation of the drum, and means controlled by the cable for closing an auxiliary circuit v to the motor to maintain the latter in operation after the rail circuit is open 8. The combination with a pair of railroad rails insulated to form blocks, and an electrical circuit having terminals connected to the rails and adapted tc be closed on electrically connecting the rails, a motor on said circuit, a drum adapted to be rotated by said motor, a cable wound on said drum and suspended horizontally between posts, means controlled =by closino' the' electrical vcircuit through the rails settlng the motor in operation and causing the cable to unwind from the drum, means on the cable for stopping llO rotation of they drum; means; controlled, by

the ycable for vclosinggan auxiliary circuit to lthe motor to maintain the latter in operation after the raily circuit is` open, and 'means controlled by opening of thewrail circuit for causing the drum torotate in a reverse direction to Wind the cable.:

9. The combination witlia. pair of railroad rails insulated t0 form blocks, land an electrical circuit having terminals connected to the rails and adaptedftc be closed on electrically connecting lthe rails, a .mot-or on said circuit-,a drum adapted to be rctatedby said niotor,.a cable Wound on said drum and suepended horizontally between posts, means opiieeft ma pstentwmay: be obtained--ffor controlledby closing the electrical circuit through the rails setting the motor in operation :and causing the cable to unwind from the drinn, means on the cable for stopping rotation of the dru1n,y1neans controlled. by the cable for closingan auxiliary circuit to lthemotorto maintain the latter inopera- JOHN DOSER.4

ystop the; motor,

vefcents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." .f 

